latta



(No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 1. E. G. LATTA.

VELOGIPEDE.

Patented Mar. 294, 1887.

By Wm gmey,

N. PErEns, Prmutmgnphcr, Wnninglun. D. c.

(No Model.) `3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

l E. G. LATTA.

VELOGIPEDB.

No. 360,101. Pagggjed 113.1229, 1887.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

E. G. LATTA.

VELOGIPEDE.-

No, 360,101. Patented Mal". 29, 1887,

NTTED STATES PATENT Fries.

EMMIT G. LATTA, OF FRIENDSHIP, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TOTHE POPE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, ME.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 360,101, dated March29, 1887.

Application tiled February 1Q, 1886. Serial No. 191,735.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMMIT G. LATTA, of Friendship, in the countyofAllegany and State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Velocipedesyot' which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of inachines which are providedwith a front steering-wheel and a rear driving wheel or wheels, and hasfor its object to produce a machine which is especially adapted for uselon hilly or rough roads, and which can be used by riders who areunableto mount the ordinary bicycle; also, to construct a machine inwhich the danger of forward falls is prevented,and in which the ridercan readily and quickly dismount on either side,or in front or in rearof the machine, without danger of becoming entangled with the machine.

The invention consists of the improvements in the construction of themachine,which will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of three sheets, Figure l is afragmentary side elevation of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a sectionalfront elevation ofthe machine. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of thesteering mechanism and connecting parts on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 isa horizontal section on line :r fr, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of amodiied construction of my improved machine.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several ligures.

A represents the driving-wheel, and A the steering-wheel, which isarranged in front of the driving-Wheel A.

a represents the axle of the driving-wheel, and b a sprocket-wheelsecured to the axle of the driving-wheel- C represents the crankshaft,which is arranged in front of the drivingavheel and provided with asprocket-wheel, c, which is connected with the sprocket-wheel Z) on theaxle of the driving-wheel by an endless chain, c.

D are the pedals secured to the crank-arms d of the crank-shaft in theusual manner.

E represents the rear fork or frame of the machine, which straddles therear wheel and extends forwardly and downwardly from the j" and boltsfl.

(No model.)

axle or hub of the driving-wheel to the rim. The crank-shaft C isjournaled in bearingsf, which are secured to the rear fork, E, by clipsThe crank-shaft C can be readily adjusted byloosening the bolts]C2 and55 sliding the clipsf on the fork-arms E.

G represents the front fork arms, which straddle the front or steeringwheel, A', and which extend rearwardly and upwardly from the axle of thefront wheel and downwardly to 6o the rim, and terminate outside of therim in a steering-head, Il.

I represents the center spindle, seated in the head II and provided witha flat neck, l', which is attached to the rear fork-arms, E. The head Hmay be of any suitable form, but I prefer the usual cylindrical form ofsteeringhead, having an opening, h, in its rear side t0 admit thespindle I, and through which the neck I of the spindle passes. Thespindle I 7o is provided with upper and lower centers of the usual form,on which the steering-head turns. The ends of the steering-head areprovided with internal screw-threads, which receive the screw-nuts J J',which latter are pro- 75 vided with conical seats j j, which form thebearings for the centers of the spindle I. The screw-nuts J J areprovided with a central bore or oil-duct, L', which extends through thescrewuiuts, for oiling the centers of the spin- 8o die. The oil-ducts kare closed by a screw, k', which retains the oil in the openings andprevents -dust, &c., from entering the openings.

The center bearings, J J, are of different lengths, and areinterchangeable, and permit the spindle to be adjusted up or down in thesteering-head to change the relative position of the various parts ofthe machine, as well as to permit the adjustment of the bearings whenworn and their renewal. The bearings J J 9o are held in position, whenadjusted, by jamnuts k". The steeringhead H is preferably arranged at anangle or incline, with its lower end slightly forward under the rear ofthe steering-wheel, whereby the steering-wheel is 9 5 rendered lessliable to swerve when striking an obstruction, and the center bearingsare brought closer to the center of the steeringwheel than if thesteering-head were arranged in a vertical position, which enables therider Ico wheels in line, and by locating the steeringhead between thewheels enables the steering to be effected with less deflection ofthesteering-wheel, as the rear wheel is also deflected in the oppositedirection nearly as much as i 5 the steeringwheel is deflected, causingthe two wheels to run closer to the saine line.

The neck l of the spindle fits closely be tween the extensions L of therear fork-arms, and is pivoted thereto by a bolt, Z, which passes 2Othrough the lower end of the neck and the lower front end of theextension L.

Z is a boltwhich passes through the upper end .of the fork-extensions L,and through a slot, m, formed in the neck l.

N are arms formed at the lower ends of the fork-extensions L, andextending baekwardly from the pivot-bolt l. n

O represents a lever which is secured at 'its lower end between the armsN by a bolt, a,

3@ and which extends upwardly and forwardly,

so as to clear the pedals on the crank-shaft.

P represents a curved spring secured at its upper end to the neck I,above the slot m, by a bolt, p, and at its lower end to the lever O by abolt, 19', the curved portion of the spring passing between the forwardends of the rear fork-arms, E. l

R represents the handle-bars secured to the front forks, G, andextending outwardly and 4o upwardly to a convenient height, at whichthey are provided with outwardly-projecting handles 1'. The handle barsR are preferably detachably connected with the fork-arms G, or they maybe riveted or brazed thereto. The

lower horizontal portions, o", of the handlebars form convenientfoot-rests, upon which the rider can rest his feet when coasting downhill, and from which he'can easily replace his feet on the pedals whennecessary, or jump to 5C the ground in case of a fall, the free open,space between the handle-bars permitting the rider to dismount from themachine and pass between the handle-bars.

S represents a mud-guard,secured at its lower end to the rear fork orframe of the machine and extending upwardly in front-of thedriving-wheel, and connected at its upper end to a brace, S', whichextends backward to the hub ofthe driving-wheel. The guard S is made 6Jof tubing, and is formed to encircle the front and sides of thedriving-Wheel tire, as shown in Figs. l and 3. The upper end ofthe-guard S terminates in a tubular socket, s, which forms a support forthe saddle. The latter is fast- 6 5 cned to a rod, s', which is securedlin the socket s by a split ring, s2, and screw-bolt sa.

the handle-bars or foot-rests.

Upon mounting a hill the rider depresses the lever O with his toe, whichhe can readily do without removing his foot from the pedal, until thebolt p', which connects the lower end of the spring P with the lever, ismoved past a line drawn between the pivot-bolt n of the lever and thebolt p, which connects the upper end of the spring with the neck l. Thenthe lower end ofthe spring has moved past this point, lthe lever isforced downward by the spring, which causes the fork-extensions L toswing on the pivot-bolt Z of the neck, and the upper portions of theneck and fork-extensions are brought closer together, the bolt Z'sliding in the slot min the neck. This movement of the spring and leverchanges the position of the front and rear forks, and causes thesaddleto be thrown slightly forward, so that the rider can assume aboutthe same position over the pedals when on an upgrade as when on a levelroad, and also by the same movement the handle-bars are thrown slightlybackward of their normal position and nearer to the'saddle, whichenables the rider to lift on the handles, ifhe desires. Vhen level ordescending ground is reached, the parts are readily returned to theirformer position by pressing forward on lf desired, the saddle may betilted forward in hill-climbing by slotting the -rear ends of the bracesS, as shown in Fig. G. In this construction the braces are sprungslightly, to cause them to bind on the bolts which secure their rearends to the fork-arms.

The driving-gear and saddle being located between the points where thetwo wheels rest on the ground, equalizes the vibration or jar whenpassing over rough roads and renders it much easier to the rider. Anyjar. or shock received by either wheel is lessened by the spring P,which forms a connection between the front and rear forks of themachine.

Constructing the frame of the machine as as described,and arranging thedriving mechanism between the driving-wheel and the steery ing-wheel andbelow the axles of the wheels,

enables the machine to be easier balanced and permits the rider todismount from either side ofthe machine, as there is no obstructionbetween the Wheels above the driving-gear. The open space between thehandle-ba-rs also permits the rider to dismount in front and passbetween the handle-bars, or the rider can readily dismount in the rearwithout danger ofentangling himself with the machine. This constructionof the frame also permits the wheels to be brought very close together,if desired, as the rear part of the steering-wheel does not swing acrossthe line of the frame, as in other machines, thus making a very shortmachine.

T represents the brake-lever, which is pivoted to the rear fork-arms att, and extends upward outside of the mud-guard, and provided at itsupper end with a broad iiat head, t, which projects outward on each sideof the mud-guard S.

IOO

t2 is the brake-spoon formed at thelower end of the brake-lever andbelow the rear forkarms. Upon pressing` forward on the head t witheither foot the brake is applied below the driving-gear, where it causesdirt or mud on the tire to fall to the ground without coming in contactwith the machine. The head t, when pressed forward in position for use,forms a broad hollow bearing` for the foot. The brakespoon is held awayfrom contact with the tire of the wheel when not in use by a suitablespring secured to the brake-lever between the forli-arms.

I claim as my inventionl. In a veloeipede, the combination, with afrontsteering-wheelandareardrivingwheel,of a frame connecting bothwheels and depressed between said wheels, a driving-gear attached to thedepressed portion of theit'raine between the steering and drivingwheels, and handlebars attached with theirlower ends directly to thefork-arms of the steering-wheel and having their upper portionsseparated from the fork-arms byintervening spaces, substantially as setforth.

2. The combination,with the front steeringing-wheel and reardriving-wheel, of a frame connecting both wheels, andabackwardly-inclined steering-head arranged in rear of thesteering-wheel and below the center thereof, whereby the tendency toswerve upon striking` an obstruction is greatly lessened, snbstan`tially as set forth.

3. The combination, in a veloeipede provided with a front steering-wheeland rear driving wheel or wheels,of apivoted framesupporting the frontwheel, and two independent handle-bars connected to the front frame andextending outward and upward from the frame, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, in a veloeipede pro vided with a frontsteering-wheel and rear driving wheel or wheels and a connecting-frame.of two handle-bars connected to the frame and bent outward from theframe to form footrests and upward to form handles, substantially as setforth.

5.- The combination, with the steering-head and spindle, ofthe centerbearings, J J', seated in threaded openings formed in opposite ends ofthe steering-head and made interchangeable and of different lengths,substantially as set forth.

6. In a veloeipede, the co1nbination,with the front steering-wheel and arear driving-wheel and a connecting-frame, of a saddle-support pivotedat its lower end to the frame and snpported at its upper end by bracesS', which extend rearwardly from the saddle-support and connected attheir rear ends to the frame, substantially as set forth.

7. In a veloeipede, the combination, with a front steering-wheel and arear drivingwhcel, of a connecting-frame composed of two parts attached,respectively, to said wheels and connected by a hinge-joint, and aspring, I?, also connecting both parts of the frame, substantially asset forth.

S. In a veloeipede, the combination, with a front steering-wheel and areardriving-wheel, of a frame connecting said wheels and co1nposed oftwo parts attached together by a hinge joint, a saddle supported on onepart of the frame, and mechanism, substantially as described,whereby thetwo parts of the frame are adjusted toward and from cach other, therebythrowing the saddle forward or backward, substantially as set forth.

9. In a'velocipede, the combination, with a front steering-wheel and arear drivingwheel, of a jointed frame connecting the steering wheel withthe driving-wheel, handle-bars sccured to the frame, and mechanism,substantially as described, whereby the handle-bars are thrown backwardor forward, substantially as set forth.

10. In a veloeipede, the combination, with the front fork-armssupporting the steeringwhecl and haudle-bars and the rear fork-armssupporting the driving-wheel and saddle, of the steering-head andspindle connecting the front and rear fork-arms, aspring, I), attachedto the rear forks and the neck of the spindle, and a lever, N wherebythe position of the fork-ar1ns is adjusted andthe handle-bars and saddleadjusted toward each other, snbstantially as set forth.

1l. In a veloeipede, the combination, with the front fork-armssupporting the steeringwheel and the rear fork-arms supporting thetliiviiig-\vhcel and saddle, of the steering-head and spindle connectingthe frontand rear forkarms, a crankshaft attached to the rear forkarms,and a lever arranged close to the cranlshaft, whereby the position ofthe fork-arms and saddle is adjusted by the riders foot withoutrcmovingthe foot l'rom the pedal, substantially as set forth.

\Vitness my hand this 6th day of February, 1886.

EMMI'I G. LATTA.

Witnesses:

M. W. Po'r'rnn, S. E. LATTA.

